William A. ‘Bill’ Wills, 70

By editor

Created 08/12/2011 - 11:24

William A. “Bill” Wills, 70, of Wapakoneta, died 1:32 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011, at his residence.
He was born Aug. 14, 1940, in Wapakoneta, the son of Bessie (Darst) and James “Pete” Wills, who preceded him in death. On Sept. 2, 1961, he married Charlotte M. Hemmert, and she survives.
Other survivors include, four sons, Michael (Linda) Wills, of Huntsville, Ala., Kevin (Laura) Wills, of Danville, David (Karrie) Wills, of Maumee, and Douglas Wills, of Wapakoneta; five grandchildren, Ashley, Abby, Addison, Garren, and Katie Wills; two step-grandchildren, Kyla and Kelby Hammond; two brothers, James “Jim” (Marlene) Wills, of Wapakoneta, and Richard Wills, Portland, Texas; three sisters, Betty Hemmert, of Wapakoneta, Dorothy (Ned) Hobler, of Wapakoneta, and Catherine Harris, of Johnston, R.I.; and a sister-in-law, Barbara (Robert) Krebs, of Botkins.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Paul Wills; and three sisters, Phyllis Walker, Mary Wolfe, and Janet Clayton.
Bill retired in 2000 as a production supervisor at the Dana Corp., Lima. Prior to that, he served as a police officer with the city of Wapakoneta. He was a seven-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, and served in Viet Nam from 1966 to 1967.
A member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church, he was also a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 1272, both of Wapakoneta. He was a life member of the Wapakoneta Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8445, and a life member of the Disabled American Veterans, Auglaize County Chapter 73. He was a proud member of the VFW Honor Guard. An avid golfer, he enjoyed traveling and was a fan of Notre Dame, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Reds, and University of Dayton basketball. Bill would say his two favorite teams were Notre Dame and any team playing Ohio State.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Wed. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Wapakoneta, with the Rev. Matthew Lee officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery, Wapakoneta, where military rites will be conducted by the Wapakoneta V.F.W.
The family will receive friends 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m., Tues, and 9-9:45 a.m., Wednesday at the Long & Folk Chapel of Bayliff & Eley Funeral Home, 13 S. Blackhoof St., Wapakoneta.
Memorial contributions may be directed to St. Joseph Catholic Church Renovation Fund or St. Rita’s Hospice.
Condolences may be expressed at www.bayliffandeleyfh.com[1].